The planned Azimio protests, scheduled for Tuesday next week, have been promised not to turn violent and chaotic by President William Ruto, who has committed to deploy every authority at his disposal.
Following the decision by the Azimio la Umoja Coalition to resume the national demonstrations in response to what the party's hierarchy has dubbed Kenya Kwanza's failure to commit to holding productive bipartisan talks, Ruto expressed his views on the matter.
Speaking on Saturday in Malava, Kakamega County, President Ruto emphasized that he had gotten in touch with Azimio leader Raila Odinga to find a peaceful way to resolve the current conflict between the opposition and his administration.
Ruto continued by saying that despite his efforts, Raila seems to have disregarded his grand gesture by encouraging his supporters to join the demonstrations.
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"Mimi niliwaambia ile wiki ingine; nikaita yule mzee wa kitendawili na nikamwambia wewe wacha hii maandamano tupeleke hii maneno yote unasema bunge; wabunge waangalie kama kuna maneno ya ukweli," remarked a visibly agitated Ruto.
The phrase "Sasa ati wamekataa hiyo ya kwenda kuongea kwa amani kwa bunge" is used. I am Ati Wanataka Kurudi Mandamano. Ati waende wavunje mali na biashara ya wananchi. Commander-in-chief Mimi Ndio. It's Nyinyi mtajua Hamjui. Hiyo wawache mchezo.
Ruto compared the Azimio demonstrations to economic sabotage and stressed that his government's top goal is improving Kenyans' lives, not fighting with the opposition.
"Last year, Mambo ya uchaguzi tulimaliza. Ile kazi imebaki ni maendeleo ya wananchi; kazi imebaki sasa si ya viongozi, he said.
Itaharibika tena, hakuna mali au biashara ya wananchi. Itasimama imara kuhakikisha ya kwamba inalinda maisha na mali na biashara ya kila mwananchi, Serikali ya Kenya itasimama imara.
